When the cardinals voted to elect Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the 265th successor of St. Peter on the evening of March 13, 2013, few of them imagined what kind of pope he would be.
Gerard O’Connell
Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis appears to crowds on Easter Sunday after brief meeting with JD Vance
Just halfway through his period of convalescence, Pope Francis not only appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday to give the Urbi et Orbi blessing—to the city of Rome (“urbi”) and to the world (“orbi”)—but he also drove among the crowd in his jeep.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
‘Why them and not me?’: Pope Francis after Holy Thursday prison visit
Asked how he was living this Easter period, given his condition and convalescence, Pope Francis replied, “As best I can!”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis will visit a prison ‘in a private way’ on Holy Thursday—if his health allows
Pope Francis, 88, will visit Rome’s Regina Coeli prison “in a private way” on Holy Thursday afternoon if his health condition allows it.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Head of the Jesuits on Trump, Rupnik and the state of the Society of Jesus today
“You don’t do that!” That is what Arturo Sosa, S.J., the superior general of the Jesuits, would say to President Trump about his mass deportation of undocumented migrants if he had the opportunity to meet him.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis delegates cardinals to celebrate Holy Week liturgies
Asked whether the pope would meet with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert who will be in Rome for the Easter weekend, the director of the Holy See Press office said he did not have information on that.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Interview: Holy Land Christians raise their voices for the suffering people of Palestine
A Jerusalem Voice for Justice released a statement expressing solidarity with the Palestinians suffering in Gaza and the West Bank and appealing for help from their fellow Christians worldwide “who see our wounds but do not speak out.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis speaks with stronger voice at the end of Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square
His appearance today was unannounced but not unexpected as Swiss Guards were posted around the square, a sign that the pope would be present at some point.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
After surprise appearance, Vatican says Pope Francis is improving
Mr. Bruni said the pope is in “good humor” and happy to get out of his suite at the Casa Santa Marta and surprise people, as we saw yesterday, April 10, when the pope appeared in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Breaking: Pope Francis meets with King Charles III at the Vatican
King Charles III and Queen Camilla paid a private visit to Pope Francis in the Vatican on the afternoon of April 9, the 18th day of his convalescence.